Hill of the Buddha, Lake Toya & Hell Valley Day Tour from Sapporo

Hill of the Buddha at Makomanai Takino

The Hill of the Buddha stands in a large cemetery park on the southern edge of Sapporo. A seated stone Buddha about 13.5 metres tall was enclosed inside a man-made hill designed by a celebrated Japanese architect, so that from outside only the head appears above a dome of lavender. Visitors approach through a still water garden and a long concrete tunnel, and the statue is revealed only at the end, under an open circle of sky.

How to get to the Hill of the Buddha? There is no train station nearby and local buses are infrequent, which is why most visitors come on a tour like this. The site opens in daytime, with shorter hours in winter. The best time to visit the Hill of the Buddha for colour is July, when the lavender blooms; in winter the dome turns white with snow. Please keep voices low, as this is an active cemetery.

Jozankei and Futami Park

Jozankei is a hot spring village tucked into a forested gorge of the Toyohira River, less than an hour's drive from central Sapporo and inside Shikotsu-Toya National Park. Steam rises from the riverbanks, small foot baths line the streets, and statues of the kappa, a mischievous water spirit from local legend, appear everywhere. The village is especially loved in early to mid October, when the maple-covered cliffs turn red and gold.

The tour stops at Futami Park, a riverside path that leads to the bright red Futami suspension bridge over a deep green pool. The name means two people looking together, and couples like to say the view brings lasting happiness. About 40 minutes is enough to cross the bridge and take photos. Many people search for a Jozankei day trip from Sapporo, and this stop gives a perfect taste without a separate journey.

Lake Toya observation deck and lakeside

Crossing the mountains beyond Jozankei, the coach reaches Lake Toya, a deep caldera lake in Shikotsu-Toya National Park. From the observation deck on the rim you see the whole basin at once: the round lake, the forested Nakajima islands at its centre and the volcanoes on the far shore. Thanks to geothermal warmth the lake almost never freezes, so it looks open and blue even in midwinter.

After the viewpoint you have over an hour at the lakeside onsen town to choose lunch at your own expense, with seafood bowls, ramen, curry and set meals nearby, then stroll along the water. Halal food is limited here, but seafood and vegetarian choices are easy to find. Lake Toya and the neighbouring Usu volcano form a UNESCO Global Geopark, recognised for showing how people live alongside an active volcano.

Showa Shinzan bear park and Mount Usu ropeway

Just south of the lake rises Showa Shinzan, a lava dome that pushed out of flat farmland during eruptions between 1943 and 1945 and still steams today, with the larger Mount Usu behind it. At its foot, a bear park keeps Hokkaido brown bears, which you can watch and feed with food sold on site. Alternatively, the Mount Usu ropeway climbs in a few minutes to a summit viewpoint over Lake Toya, the crater and the Pacific coast.

Both activities are optional and paid on site; cash is recommended. The 60-minute stop allows time for one of the two, so choose the bears or the summit view on the day. Guests who prefer neither can enjoy the souvenir shops and the view of Showa Shinzan from the car park. Never feed the bears your own food, and follow the staff's instructions at all times.

Noboribetsu Hell Valley

The last stop is Jigokudani, the Hell Valley of Noboribetsu, a volcanic crater whose slopes smoke and bubble with sulphurous vents, hot streams and grey pools. It supplies the hot spring water for the town below, one of the most famous onsen resorts in Hokkaido. Wooden boardwalks lead into the crater, and the sight of steam rising from the ochre and white earth is unforgettable, especially on cool evenings.

Is Noboribetsu Hell Valley worth visiting? It is one of the most dramatic volcanic landscapes you can reach easily in Japan, and the 40-minute stop is enough for the main viewpoints. Paths can be wet and slippery, so wear sturdy shoes and stay on the walkways. Onsen bathing is not included; in Japan, public baths are separated by gender and bathing suits are not worn, while private family baths also exist.